Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

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Users say
(10)

4 out of 5 stars

Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

The Natural History Museum's butterfly house returns for an eighth year in 2016 to a specially constructed tropical enclosure on the Museum's east lawn. Visitors can come face-to-face with tropical butterflies, including the swallowtail, blue morpho, the moon moth and many others originating from Africa, Southeast Asia and North and South America, and take part in games, activities and challenges that teach more about the sensory world of the fluttering creatures.

Most of the creatures in the Natural History Museum have been dead for a very, very long time. But here, in this humid tent on its lawn, you can see the most beautiful birth sequence in the natural world: a butterfly wriggling out of its chrysalis, pumping up its damp wings then taking flight and landing – if you're lucky – on you, instead of a flower.

Each year, hundreds of tropical chrysalises arrive at Heathrow from all over the world, destined for the tender care of the Museum’s expert lepidopterist Luke Brown – also a skilled butterfly midwife, who watches lovingly over their metamorphoses, and steps in with a pin to help the little insects free of their leaf-shaped pods if they’re struggling. In the wild, only 10 to 15 percent of them will make this extraordinary transformation from hairy caterpillar to nectar-sipping glider: here, the success rate is more like 85 percent.

Even if you don’t catch one in the act of emerging, this is a truly sensational environment: the damp, hot air is thick with colourful butterflies, and the sweet scents of fruit and flowers that attract them. There are so many butterflies that you have to take care not to trample them underfoot (I’d think twice before letting a toddler loose among these ultra-delicate live exhibits). But this is a wonderful chance to learn, via close-up observation, about these creatures, and to immerse yourself in every stage of their brief, gorgeous lives.

I visited at the weekend with my two year old twins, and although they were a little scared at times (just because they're two), they enjoyed watching the colourful beautiful creatures surround us!

We preordered our tickets (£5.85/£6.50 if you want to want to make an additional donation) and simply gave our reference number at the door. Simple and organised - great when you're dealing with toddlers and have spent the morning travelling on tubes.

Popped in here when trying to kill some time. £6.50 for an adult which is not too bad but if you are hoping for a 'mass' of butterflies (a la Snow White) you may be disappointed. The room is warm and humid (they tell you this before you enter) and does have a decent amount of butterflies fluttering about the place for goof photo opps.

It was fun to follow the trail and learn about the different steps of butterflies, I really enjoyed see them in their cocoon phase and the ones 'airing out' on the branches.

I have been to other butterfly exhibits and really enjoyed
them.The butterflies at this exhibit
have been bought by the NHM from butterfly farms, and I am sad to say are not
well cared for.Many of the butterflies had
obvious damage to their wings.When I
mentioned it to one of the staff he seemed to find the whole thing funny….

"title"

The novelty of nature’s tiny symmetrical works of art never seems to wear off. This beautiful exhibition on the lawn outside the museum has been running all summer and its popularity shows no signs of abating. There’s science for those who want it, with thoughtful displays and interpretation for junior lepidopterists. The real appeal, though, is seeing these amazing creatures. They seem to have an uncanny sense of when they’re about to have their photo taken, so the only way to see them in their full glory is in the flesh.

Really nice exhibition! It's not very big but you can see a lot of butterflies and you will be surprised how many of them will land on you and stay there for a while. It's outside of the National History Museum and during school holidays, where everyone was queuing for the museum, you didn't wait for the butterflies. I recommend to bring a good camera as you can take perfect pictures!